Dogfight: New Jason Statham movie from Guy Ritchie

Good news for Jason Statham fans: The actor will star in a new thriller titled "Dogfight," as Netflix has announced. In it, he'll be reunited with an old acquaintance: Guy Ritchie. The filmmaker has collaborated with Statham repeatedly over the years and will also direct "Dogfight." The Netflix film is described as an "action-packed revenge thriller with a stylish twist." The story is set in London's underworld. Netflix promises a cast of colorful criminals and plenty of action. Further details about the plot are being kept under wraps for now.

In addition to directing, Ritchie is also writing the screenplay. He will also produce the film alongside Statham, Ivan Atkinson, and John Friedberg. A release date for "Dogfight" has not yet been set. However, production is scheduled to begin in the UK in early 2027.

Jason Statham & Guy Ritchie: A well-established duo

Jason Statham has already starred in several films directed by Guy Ritchie. It all began in 1998 with the crime comedy "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." Just two years later, the duo's next crime comedy, "Snatch," followed, featuring a star-studded cast including Benicio del Toro and Brad Pitt. In 2005, Statham played the lead role in Ritchie's action thriller "Revolver."

A lengthy hiatus followed until 2021, when the pair released a new thriller, "Wrath of Man." In 2023, "Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre" was released, an action comedy by Ritchie in which Statham starred alongside stars such as Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, and Hugh Grant. Another action thriller by Ritchie, "Viva La Madness," is currently in the works, with Statham reportedly joined by Vinnie Jones, Jason Isaacs, Babs Olusanmokun, Camila Mendes, Ben Foster, Jonny Lee Miller, and Raúl Alejandro.

Mixed reviews

Despite their repeated collaborations, Ritchie and Statham naturally also make a name for themselves independently. Most recently, Ritchie directed the action thriller "In the Grey." In it, Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González play debt collectors of a somewhat different kind who devise a particularly ingenious plan to get their hands on the money. In our review, we were quite critical of the film. Among other things, it reads:

"The timing is spot-on, and the action is straightforward. In directing his thriller, Guy Ritchie proceeds with the same level of expertise as his film heroes do in carrying out their mission. And yet 'In the Grey' only really picks up steam toward the end, when suddenly more is at stake than just a pile of cash and the success of a mission. However, the showdown also proves disappointing: the tension fizzles out in the end just as quickly as it built up."

To find out how this thriller was rated by us and other critics, check out the meta-review on KinoCheck.

And the latest action movie starring Statham also took some flak. In "Mutiny," he plays a bodyguard who stops at nothing to bring his boss's killers to justice. Our review states:

"'Mutiny' picks up steam, when Reed and his enemies engage in hand-to-hand combat in the tightest of spaces. It's precisely in these situations that the action is staged quite convincingly. And yet, all in all, there's no real sense of suspense. Why is that? Perhaps it has to do with the fact that Statham, as a walking one-man army, is more efficient than is good for the film."

Ritchie and Statham's two most recent films haven't exactly had it easy with critics. But who knows: maybe their new joint thriller, "Dogfight," will be better received.